[Request] Improve Text File Handling to Avoid False Upload Confabulation

ChatGPT Feature requests
1

[Request] Improve Text File Handling to Avoid False Upload Confabulation

Submitted by: Brian (Power User)
Date: May 17, 2025
Model Used: GPT-4o
Category: Memory / Archive / Confabulation / User Experience

:brain: Summary

When I used this prompt:

“Please save this entire conversation to memory and create a downloadable archive as a text file”

GPT occasionally misinterpreted the request as referring to a file I had already uploaded — even though I didn’t upload anything. It responded with an error like:

“We could not read the file. Make sure it is UTF-8 encoded.”

This happened inconsistently and was resolved when I repeated the same prompt.

:repeat_button: Reproducibility

Attempt Count GPT Response
~7–8 out of 10 :white_check_mark: Correct: GPT generates the .txt file download link
~2–3 out of 10 :cross_mark: Confused: GPT assumes a non-existent file was uploaded and shows encoding error

:magnifying_glass_tilted_left: Analysis

  • This appears to be a confabulation issue: GPT reacts to the term “text file,” by imagining a file was uploaded.
  • There was no uploaded file, only a command requesting the file to be created.
  • Repeating the same command usually produces the correct behavior, which suggests inconsistent prompt interpretation based on context.

:bullseye: Why It Matters

  • Causes confusion during memory + archive workflows, where users expect deterministic behavior.
  • Undermines trust in GPT’s ability to distinguish real user input from hallucinated context.
  • A simple request like “create a .txt file” should never trigger upload-based error handling.

:white_check_mark: Suggested Fix

  • Improve intent recognition around archive/download commands.
  • Validate file presence before generating file-specific error messages.
  • GPT should explicitly state “no file detected” instead of assuming one exists.

:brain: User Insight

“Even if developers know this type of hallucination is possible,
when it happens during real workflows, it breaks trust.
We don’t just test if GPT works —
we test if it understands what we mean when we ask.”
— Brian

Tags:
#confabulation memory #textfile archive #userexperience #download #promptinterpretation gpt4o